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Northeast Georgia HikingNew & Old Friends Who Like to Hike

August 4, 2015

Whiteside Mountain Trail and Glen Falls Trail - NC

Trail information

We traveled to Highlands, NC today and first hiked the Whiteside Mountain loop trail up and across the rim at the top of the breathtaking cliffs on Whiteside Mountain. The back side of the loop was closed due to step construction going on and we had to double back and return the way that we came up. Next, we hiked the Glen Falls Trail to two nice mountain waterfalls. Total hiking distance today - About 5 miles with some elevation change. We rate the hike difficulty as moderate

Directions

For Whiteside Mt. From the Dillard Highway 106 drive to the intersection of Highway 64 in downtown Highlands, turn right and continue thru town to the traffic light where 64 turns left toward Cashiers. Travel toward Cashiers on US 64 for 5.5 miles to the Whiteside Mountain Road sign turn right on paved road NC 1600 and go .6 mile and turn left into the parking lot. The Glenn Falls Trail is located off of Highway 106 (the Dillard Highway) about 3 miles south of Highlands, NC. Look for the sign to Glen Falls. Another great day for a hike! WILD

Conditions

Sunny to partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the upper 60's to the upper 70's F.

Hikers (19)

  • Geri Barrios
  • Wayne Barrios
  • Mike Bell
  • Jenny Bell
  • Suzanne Belflower
  • John Bellamy
  • June Bellamy
  • Karen Brown
  • Joe Collins
  • Stephen Gales
  • Jack Jacobi
  • Ronnie Johns
  • Mary Loureiro
  • Dick Metzgar
  • Huck Phillips
  • Tony Presley
  • Greg Robson
  • Vic Robson
  • Carole Wintle

Flowers in bloom

Bush Honeysuckle, White Bee Balm, Wood Aster, Rattlesnake Plantain, Turk's Cap Lily, Joe Pye Weed, Heal-all, Woodland Sunflower, Coreopsis, Virgin's Bower, Queen Anne's Lace, Red Clover, Mountain Phlox

Birds identified

Junco, American Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Nuthatch and Tufted Titmouse

Photos (14)

  • The parking lot for the Whiteside Mountain Trail.
  • Information boards at the trailhead.
  • Our first of many viewpoints today!
  • The viewpoints are along the rim of massive cliffs and nice guard fences prevent tragic accidents.
  • Sign for the Continental Divide.
  • The cliffs on Whiteside are Peregrine Falcon Nesting territory.
  • Lance-leaved Coreopsis
  • The highest point on the trail - 4,930 ft.
  • For our second trail today, we travel to the other side of Highlands to the Glenn Falls Trail.
  • Ready to hike to the falls!
  • The beautiful upper falls.
  • Lunchtime on the trail.
  • The lower falls. Water flow at Glenn Falls today was low due to a dry spell.
  • The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Jack Jacobi, Karen Brown, Mary Loureiro, Suzanne Belflower, Carol Wintle, Huck Phillips, Greg Robson, Jenny Bell, Mike Bell, Vic Robson, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Ronnie Johns, Stephen Gales, Wayne Barrios, Geri Barrios, Joe Collins and Dick Metzgar.